STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

- TEMPLE - A 23-point Temple first quarter set the tone for the game as the Bryan Vikings wrapped up the 2011 season with a 0-37 loss to the Wildcats Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.

The Vikings’ first possession got off to a strong start before the Wildcats (6-4, 5-2) forced a punt.

Tim Willett’s first punt of the night buried the Wildcats at their own one yard line. But that proved to be a small obstacle for Temple.

The Wildcats’ 12-play, 99-yard drive took fewer than four minutes off the clock. Gaylon Sanders ran in from one-yard out to put Temple up 7-0.

The touchdown not only gave the Wildcats the lead. It also opened the floodgates.

On the ensuing Viking possession, Zach Alvarado fumbled inside Bryan’s five yard line. Temple’s Demarkes Mathis lived a defensive lineman’s dream as he scooped up the ball and rumbled in the final three yards to put the Wildcats ahead 14-0.

Temple’s defense was not finished putting points on the board, however. Alvarado was sacked in the end zone on the next possession and Bryan (4-6, 2-5) trailed 16-0.

Following the free kick, Temple quarterback Zach Allen hit Jeremy Hemphill for a 48-yard completion to put the Wildcats back in the red zone.

Sanders finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to put Temple ahead 23-0.

The woes continued in the second half.

A short Tim Willett punt gave the Wildcats a short field at the Bryan 18. Sanders ran in from 13 yards to put Temple up 30-0.

The Wildcats added their final score on a three yard touchdown pass from Allen to Ronnie Chapman.

Temple finished with 335 total yards. Allen had 150 passing yards and 39 on the ground.

Sanders had 100 of the Wildcats 185 rushing yards.

Temple’s defense, which came into the game statistically last in the district, may have made the biggest difference in the game for the Wildcats. They kept the Vikings in check offensively, holding Bryan to 107 yards of total offense, including only 58 yards rushing.

Temple advances to the 5A playoffs. They will face Longview next Saturday at 2 p.m. in Corsicana.

Score by Quarters                  1           2           3           4           Final

Bryan                                        0          0           0           0               0

Temple                                    23         0           7           7              37

1^st Quarter

Temple, 4:14, Gaylon Sanders 1 yd TD run (Joseph Pickett kick), 7-0

Temple, 3:20, Demarkes Mathis 3 yd fumble return for TD (Pickett kick), 14-0

Temple, 1:27, Zach Alvarado tackled in end zone for safety, 16-0

Temple, 0:01, Sanders 2 yd TD run (Pickett kick), 23-0

3^rd Quarter

Temple, 6:56, Sanders 13 yd TD run (Pickett kick), 30-0

4^th Quarter

Temple, 3:58, Ronnie Chapman 3 yd TD pass from Zach Allen (Pickett kick), 37-0

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

- BRYAN - The Bryan Vikings will wrap up the 2011 season on the road at Temple Friday night.

Bryan (4-5, 2-4) looks to snap a four-game losing streak as they take on the playoff-bound Wildcats.

Temple (5-4, 4-2) is coming off a 20-12 win last week over Killeen Ellison. Bryan lost 39-17 to Belton in a game that knocked the Vikings from playoff contention.

“We’re very disappointed as a football team,” Vikings head coach Bob Bellard said. Bryan is missing the playoffs for only the second time in Bellard’s five-year tenure.

The hangover from missing the postseason carried over into the week of practice, Bellard said. But the Vikings eventually began to bounce back.

“It’s always the coach’s responsibility to get our kids up and get them ready for the next week,” Bellard said. “But’s it’s been tougher this week.”

The Vikings face a winnable game in Temple, which has struggled at times in the 2011 season. The Wildcats have lost to A&M Consolidated and Copperas Cove in district play, as have the Vikings.

The onetime historic rivalry between the Wildcats and Vikings has lost some of its luster over the years. Bellard chalks that up to the changing face of the surrounding communities.

“The younger generations have probably moved on to other rivalries,” Bellard said. “I think Temple-Belton has become the bigger rivalry in Temple.”

Bellard believes A&M Consolidated has become the bigger rivalry for younger Bryan residents, although he says some Vikings fans still hold the Temple game high on the list.

“I think there’s some of that in the old community, in the older part of Bryan, right now,” Bellard said.

The Vikings defense will have to stop a potent Temple offense that leads the district with more than 452 yards a game.

The Wildcats are bolstered by running back Gaylon Sanders, the leading rusher in 12-AAAAA with 1,385 yards on the ground. Quarterback Zach Allen is a comparable offensive weapon with more than 1,500 yards passing and more than 600 yards rushing.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

- BRYAN - The term coined in sports is “trickeration.”

It was fitting, then, on the Friday before Halloween that the Belton Tigers used second quarter “trickeration” to distance themselves from the Bryan Vikings en route to a 39-17 win at Merrill Green Stadium.

Down 3-0 after one quarter, Belton (7-2, 4-2) faked a punt at midfield and got a first down as upback Kyle Rhoades took the snap into Bryan territory. The drive ended with the first of three Donavan Williams touchdowns, this one from two yards out.

The Vikings (4-5, 2-4) answered quickly as Zach Alvarado hit Tim Willett on a medium pass over the middle. Willett did the rest with his legs going 79 yards for the score and Bryan led 10-7.

It was the last time the Vikings would have the lead in the game.

Belton’s Carlo Mosnia hit a 41 yard field goal with 7:04 left in the first half to tie the game 10-10.

After forcing a Bryan punt, the Tigers looked like they would have to punt as well until Peter Shelburne hit Derick Bates in stride for an 80 yard touchdown pass on third down and 20. Belton led 17-10 with 3:02 left in the second quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mosnia gave the ball a slight tap, positioned himself between the ball and the nearest Viking player, waited until the ball traveled 10 yards and promptly fell on it.

This second act of “trickeration” set up what turned out to the fatal blow. Williams ran 10 yards for the score with 1:41 left until halftime to put the Tigers ahead 24-10 at the break.

Belton got a 35 yard interception return for a touchdown from Tramine Rose with 4:56 left in the third. The pick-6 was followed by successful two-point conversion and the Tigers led 32-10.

It looked like the Vikings would make it interesting. With 7:52 left in the game, Alvarado hit Ziquarias Webber in stride for a 56 yard touchdown pass, making it 32-17.

Any hope for Bryan was dashed on the Belton’s next offensive play. Williams capped off his touchdown hat trick with a 50-yard score only nine seconds later, putting the Tigers up 39-17.

Bryan had 347 yards of total offense on the night, including 156 on the ground. Running back Derrick Smith was the leading rusher with 102 yards on 20 carries.

Alvarado finished with 191 yards passing on eight completions out of 15 attempts. The senior had two touchdown passes and an interception in his final game at Merrill Green Stadium.

Belton’s offense finished with 381 yards, 171 on the ground and 210 passing.

With the loss, the Vikings are now mathematically eliminated from postseason action. Bryan wraps up the 2011 season next Friday at Temple.

Score by Quarters                 1            2           3           4           Final

Belton                                      0           24          8            7            39

Bryan                                        3             7          0          7             17

1^st Quarter

Bryan, 2:09 Chris Johnson 24 yd field goal, 3-0

2^nd Quarter

Belton, 11:47 Donavan Williams 2 yd TD run (Carlo Mosnia kick), 7-3

Bryan, 9:54 Tim Willett 79 yd TD pass from Zach Alvarado (Chris Johnson kick), 10-7

Belton, 7:04 Carlo Mosnia 41 yd field goal, 10-10

Belton, 3:02 Derick Bates 80 yd TD pass from Peter Shelburne (Mosnia kick), 17-10

Belton, 1:41 Williams 10 yd TD run (Mosnia kick), 24-10

3^rd Quarter

Belton, 4:56 Tramaine Rose 35 yd INT return for TD (2-pt conv), 32-10

4^th Quarter

Bryan, 7:52 Ziquarias Webber 56 yd TD pass from Alvarado (Johnson kick), 32-17

Belton, 7:43 Williams 50 yd TD run (Mosnia kick), 39-17

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

- BRYAN - The chances of a postseason trip are slim but still alive for the Bryan Vikings as they host the Belton Tigers at Merrill Green Stadium Friday.

The Vikings (4-4, 2-3) need a win over the Tigers (6-2, 3-2) plus a win next week against Temple for any shot at playoffs.

Right now, the Vikings are just looking to snap a three-game skid. Bryan lost 17-14 last week to Harker Heights.

Also of concern: the team’s health. Bryan will again be without quarterback Chris Johnson, running back Kevin Jefferson, and tight end Mike Miner.

On the plus side, the Vikings will get back offensive lineman Tim Hines and linebacker Curtis Orozco.

Bryan will also experiment with moving some defensive personnel to offense. Josh Gibbs and Zach Spicker were moved to fullback to provide extra blocking for running backs Derrick Smith and Marvin Dowdy.

“It gives us an opportunity to get somebody over there that’s kind of a lead blocker,” Vikings head coach Bob Bellard said.

The presence of an additional blocker could allow the Vikings to keep the ball a little longer and keep a high-octane Belton offense off the field. The Tigers are one of four teams in district 12-AAAAA averaging more than 400 yards of offense per game.

Belton also comes in strong defensively. The Tigers are second in the district, allowing just less than 283 yards per contest.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us from an offensive perspective,” Bellard said.

Bryan and Belton kick off at 7:30 p.m., Friday. The pregame show starts at 7:01 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

- KILLEEN – The fourth quarter held all the excitement for Bryan High, but Harker Heights held on to defeat the Vikings 17-14 Friday night at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen.

The teams traded jabs in the first quarter before Harker Heights raced to a 17-0 halftime score.

Harker Heights (5-3, 3-2) first score came with 8:16 left in the first half. Marcus Anderson’s 45 yard gain to the Bryan 5 set up quarterback C.J. Rodriguez’s five yard touchdown run on the next play to put Heights on top 7-0.

Bryan’s ensuing possession ended with a Tim Willett punt, allowing Rodriguez to hit Jamal Williams in stride for an 82 yard touchdown with 4:54 left in the second quarter. The completion extended the Knights lead to 14-0.

Vikings quarterback Zach Alvarado threw an interception on Bryan’s next possession, giving Harker Heights the ball at the Bryan 42.

The Knights worked their way to a first-and-goal at the Bryan 5 but were denied three plays later when V.J. Banks broke up a third-and-goal pass. The Knights settled for a 20-yard field goal from Jake Harler to lead 17-0 at halftime.

The third quarter closely resembled the first as neither team put points on the board, but the fourth quarter proved quite different.

After tackling Harker Heights punter Jake Harler on a fourth down play, the Vikings got an acrobatic touchdown catch from Zach Alvarado to Tim Willett with 5:30 left in the game to make it 17-7.

After recovering the onside kick, Alvarado hit Ziquarius Webber from 27 yards out. The Vikings second touchdown in 11 seconds made it 17-14 with 5:19 left in the game.

The Bryan defense held Harker Heights on the ensuing possession, setting up another Knights punt that backfired. Harler again lost possession of the snap and was swarmed by the Vikings’ Barry Densey, setting up the Bryan offense at the Harker Heights 30.

Bryan (4-4, 2-3) was unable to convert and the game down to a 43-yard field goal attempt from Chris N. Johnson that sailed wide right. The Knights took over with 0:46 left and ran out the clock.

The Vikings were led on offense by running back Derrick Smith. Smith finished with a career high 159 yards on 22 carries.

Score by Quarters             1        2       3        4       Final

Bryan                                   0       0       0        14        14

Harker Heights                   0      17      0         0         17

2^nd Quarter

HH, 8:16 C.J. Rodriguez 5 yard TD run (Jake Harler kick), 7-0

HH, 4:54 Jamal Williams 82 yd TD pass from C.J. Rodriguez (Harler kick), 14-0

HH, 0:06 Jake Harler 20 yd FG, 17-0

3^rd Quarter

N/A

4^th Quarter

Bryan, 5:30, Tim Willett 11 yd TD pass  from Zach Alvarado, (Chris Johnson kick) 17-7.

Bryan, 5:19, Ziquarius Webber 27 yd TD pass from Alvarado (Chris Johnson kick), 17-14.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

The Bryan Vikings hope to snap a two-game losing streak as they take on the Harker Heights Knights on Friday in Killeen.

Bryan (4-3, 2-2) has suffered back-to-back losses, dropping consecutive decisions to the A&M Consolidated Tigers and Copperas Cove Bulldawgs by a combined 83-35.

Harker Heights (4-3, 2-2) looks similar to Bryan on paper, but comes into Friday’s game at a more statistical disadvantage.

The Knights and Vikings share district wins over Shoemaker and Ellison. Harker Heights, however, has two losses to Temple and Belton. Bryan has played neither in losing to the two undefeated teams in 12-AAAAA, A&M Consolidated and Copperas Cove.

Vikings head coach Bob Bellard agrees there’s a lot on the line.

“This one has to be ‘must win,’” Bellard said.

Perhaps more pressing than consecutive losses to the district’s top teams may be the Vikings’ health. Bryan is down six starters on offense and four on defense from the season opener against Clear Springs.

The injuries piled up against Copperas Cove, allowing numerous back-ups to get some playing time on short notice. Bellard hopes the anticipation doesn’t become a negative on Friday night.

“It makes you nervous for this week because we’ve had a lot of guys thinking about getting their first start,” Bellard said.

Offensively, Bryan will be without quarterback Chris Johnson, running back Kevin Jefferson, and tackles Tim Hines and Zach Jones.

On defense, linebackers Tyler Allen and D’Antre Beasley are questionable among the 10 players the Vikings could lose. But Bellard says both will likely play.

Bryan defeated Harker Heights 27-17 in 2010. Friday’s trip is the second this season to Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen. The Vikings defeated Shoemaker 21-19 on October 1.

Kickoff is at 7:30 with the pregame starting at 7:01 p.m. You can hear the game live on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

BRYAN - Story Coming Soon!

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

If you only look at three quarters of the Bryan Vikings’ game against A&M Consolidated, the outcome is not that bad.

It’s that pesky 28-point third quarter for the Tigers that Bryan (4-2, 2-1) is still trying to shake.

The quest for the next victory is a daunting one because the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs are in the Vikings’ path.

Cove (5-1, 3-0) is coming off a 64-7 blowout of 12-AAAAA cellar dweller Killeen Ellison last week.

The Bulldawgs bring in the district’s leading rusher in Brandon Hamilton. His 961 rushing yards are enough to put Cove in second place in the district in overall offense.

Quarterback Orlando Thomas is the fifth leading rusher in 12-AAAAA with 584 yards on the ground complementing his 419 yards passing.

Defensively, the Bulldawgs have give up far more yards than in seasons past. Cove is second-to-last in the district allowing 418 yards per game on average.

Bryan hopes to exploit the Dawgs defensive weaknesses by mixing in Kevin Jefferson more at receiver and utilizing sophomore Derrick Smith at running back. Smith moved up from junior varsity after the Vikings lost Bobby Johnson.

Vikings head coach Bob Bellard says Smith will see significant playing time this week.

“It gives us a good option of putting a good back in the backfield and leaving Kevin (Jefferson) split out wide as a receiver,” Bellard said.

The Vikings and Bulldawgs kick off at 7:30 Friday night at Merrill Green Stadium. Pregame starts at 7:01 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

KYLE FIELD - The Bryan Vikings and the Texas A&M football team share an undesirable trait: neither has proven the ability to finish a game lately.

Bryan watched a 21-14 halftime lead dissolve quickly as the A&M Consolidated Tigers scored 35 second half points in a 49-21 romp Friday night at Kyle Field in the annual Crosstown Showdown.

Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter, the Vikings (4-2, 2-1) scored 14 unanswered points before halftime.

What proved to be Bryan’s final score of the evening came after Consol quarterback Jacob Bronowski fumbled with less than minute remaining in the second quarter. The Vikings finished a brief two-play drive as Chris Johnson ran in for a six-yard touchdown.

As the first half ended, the two teams left the field with the Vikings jubilant.

It wouldn’t last long as Consol began shredding a Bryan defense diminished by injuries.

The Tigers (3-3, 3-0) opened the second half with a 71-yard drive capped off by Bronowski’s nine-yard touchdown run with 10:07 left in the third.

Following a Bryan three-and-out, Bronowski scored with 7:22 in the third, this time on a seven-yard run.

The next two Consol touchdowns in the third quarter were compliments of Bryan turnovers.

Following a Chris Johnson fumble, Bronowski hit Quinton White for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Bryan then threw an interception on the ensuing possession, which led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Durassis Nutall.

Two three-and-outs and two turnovers resulted in a 28-point Tiger outburst in the third quarter. When the period ended, the damage was done.

Consol added a touchdown in the fourth quarter using mostly reserves to go up 49-21.

Nutall led the Tigers in rushing with 104 yards on seven carries, while running back Quinton White finished with 168 all-purpose yards and two touchdown receptions.

But it was Bronowski’s effort that paced Consol. The senior quarterback finished with 207 all-purpose yards, two touchdown passes, and three touchdown runs.

For Bryan, running back Kevin Jefferson ran for 100 yards on 23 carries. Defensively for the Vikings, linebacker Tyler Allen had a solid game, finishing with several solo tackles.

Bryan’s schedule gets no easier as the Vikings host Copperas Cove next Friday at Merrill Green Stadium. Consol is also at home next week, hosting Killeen Shoemaker.

Score by Quarters      1      2      3      4      Final

Bryan                            7     14     0      0        21

AMC                              0     14    28     7        49

1^st Quarter

Bryan, 2:55 Chris Johnson 15 yd TD pass from Zach Alvarado (Chris N. Johnson kick), 7-0

2^nd Quarter

AMC, 11:57 Jacob Bronowski 1 yd TD run (Dillon Moore kick), 7-7

AMC, 9:50 Quinton White 35 yd TD pass from Bronowski (Moore kick), 14-7

Bryan, 2:51 Kevin Jefferson 51 yd TD pass from Johnson (Chris N. Johnson kick), 14-14

Bryan, 0:28 Johnson 6 yd TD run (Chris N. Johnson kick), 21-14

3^rd Quarter

AMC, 10:07 Bronowski 9 yd TD run (Moore kick), 21-21

AMC, 7:22 Bronowski 7 yd TD run (Moore kick), 28-21

AMC, 5:40 White 31 yd TD pass from Bronowski (Moore kick), 35-21

AMC, 3:42 Durassis Nutall 25 yd TD run (Moore kick), 42-21

4^th Quarter

AMC, 7:40 Jalyn Williams 2 yd TD run (Moore kick), 49-21

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

The Bryan Vikings’ 4-1 season record doesn’t indicate how close the Vikings are to actually being 3-2, or even 2-3.

A near second-half collapse in Week 2 against Round Rock McNeil almost cost the Vikings (4-1, 2-0) as they hung on to beat the Mavericks 35-28.

A similar episode last week against the Killeen Shoemaker Grey Wolves saw the Vikings defense make a stop on the final play of the game inside the one-yard line as Bryan eked out a 21-19 win.

The Vikings can ill-afford another second-half meltdown this week as they face the surging A&M Consolidated Tigers.

Consol (2-3, 2-0) has hit their stride in district play after losing its first three games.

“I think they played three very good football teams,” Vikings head coach Bob Bellard said, “and they lost all three games very close.”

The Tigers are coming off a 49-0 win over Killeen Ellison, a team Bryan and Consol have beaten by a combined 105-7.

Bryan will be without the efforts of linebacker Curtis Orozco and running back Bobby Johnson. D’Antre Beasley will get a second consecutive start at linebacker, while running back Derrick Smith will be on the sidelines to cover for Johnson, if needed.

Bellard says they will also experiment with tight end Benny Zavala in at fullback on some plays. The Vikings will need extra blocking help as they face Consol’s solid defensive line anchored by senior J.J. Bynum.

Consol’s offensive spread formation has utilized more running plays recently, something that causes Bellard some uneasiness.

“People that have lined up and come straight downhill at us, we’ve had a hard time with, at times,” Bellard said.

The Vikings and Tigers kick off at 7:30 at Kyle Field on Friday. The pre-game show starts at 7:01 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, the Zone.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

KILLEEN – The Bryan Vikings struggled in the second half to do anything right on offense or defense.

In the end, the Vikings needed a defensive stop on the last play of the game at their own 1-yard-line to hang on to beat Killeen Shoemaker 21-19 Friday night at Leo Buckley Stadium. 

The dramatic ending was a microcosm of Bryan’s experiences at Buckley. The Vikings (4-1, 2-0) last played Shoemaker in Killeen in 2008, winning in overtime 42-41.

The Grey Wolves’ second half performance was spurred by a lively homecoming crowd that fell silent as running back Johnny Jefferson was stopped at the one-yard line on the game’s final play. 

Jefferson finished the game with 182 yards on 23 carries with three touchdowns. He added 71 yards passing to account for 253 of the Grey Wolves’ 377 yards on offense.

For Bryan, quarterback Chris Johnson led the way with 154 all-purpose yards. Johnson was the rushing leader with 96 yards and had all the Vikings’ 58 passing yards. 

Bryan raced to a 21-0 lead in the 2^nd quarter as Johnson found Kevin Jefferson for two touchdown passes. Jefferson added another on the ground.

Shoemaker (0-5, 0-2) closed the gap to 21-6 after Johnny Jefferson ran in from two yards. The extra point was no good. 

Although Bryan received the second half kick, the game’s momentum swung in favor of Shoemaker when linebacker Jordan Salinas stopped Chris Johnson on fourth down deep in Grey Wolves territory.

Shoemaker drove the length of the field in only six plays as Johnny Jefferson scored his second touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, putting the game at 21-12. 

The Grey Wolves’ defense held firm, forcing the Vikings’ offense off the field in short order. Shoemaker scored again with 9:41 left in the game as Jefferson added his third touchdown. Tim Davis added the extra point and Bryan’s lead was 21-19.

The game’s final drive saw the Grey Wolves taking a Viking punt and swiftly moving into Bryan territory. 

With Jefferson at quarterback, the Grey Wolves’ only mistake was to call their final timeout because of personnel problems. The mistake would ultimately prove fatal.

After a six-yard gain on first-and-goal, Shoemaker lined up in the wildcat formation with Jefferson at quarterback.

The junior running back took the snap and was immediately stuffed by the Vikings’ Granger DeWitt. With no timeouts left, the Grey Wolves did not have enough time to stop the clock and the game ended. 

Bryan faces A&M Consolidated at Kyle Field next Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30, with the pregame starting at 7:01 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

Score by Quarters     1          2          3          4          Final

Bryan                           7             14            0             0                 21

Shoemaker                 0               6            6              7                 19

1^st Quarter

Bryan, 5:28      Kevin Jefferson 33 yd TD pass from Chris Johnson (Chris N. Johnson kick), 7-0

2^nd Quarter

Bryan, 8:42      Jefferson 16 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 14-0

Bryan, 2:41      Jefferson 15 yd TD pass from Johnson (Johnson kick), 21-0

Shoe, 0:09       Johnny Jefferson 2 yd TD run (PAT failed), 21-6

3^rd Quarter

Shoe, 2:45       J. Jefferson 2 yd TD run (2 pt conv failed), 21-12

4^th Quarter

Shoe, 9:41       J. Jefferson 3 yd TD run (Tim Davis kick), 21-19

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

The Bryan Vikings take the show on the road to Killeen Friday night as they face off against the Shoemaker Grey Wolves.

It’s the Vikings’ (3-1, 1-0) second district game and second consecutive game against a Killeen school after last week’s 56-7 drubbing of Ellison.

Shoemaker (0-4, 0-1) is coming off a 33-7 loss to Harker Heights in their 12-AAAAA district opener.

The Grey Wolves, under first-year head coach Channon Hall, have struggled to find their offensive identity. But Bryan head coach Bob Bellard says that does not mean there is a shortage of weapons.

“They have a couple of run threats that they really, really like,” Bellard said. “They’ve gone power-I at times, spread at times, and Wildcat.”

Neither the Grey Wolves, nor the Vikings are in the top half of 12-AAAAA in total offense. The Vikings are fifth, averaging almost 327 yards per game. The Grey Wolves are last with only 165 yards per game on average.

Bellard says defense appears to be Shoemaker’s strength.

“You have to have some consistency and not allow them to make the big play,” Bellard said. “You cut somebody loose at the point of attack, they hit you, the ball comes out.”

Both teams match up similarly on defense. Bryan is third in the district allowing 326 yards per game in total defense. Shoemaker is fourth, allowing 351 yards per game.

Shoemaker has traditionally played Bryan tough, especially at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, the site of Friday’s game.

The Vikings rebounded from a 21-0 halftime deficit en route to a 42-41 overtime win in 2008, the last time the two teams played in Killeen. Bryan beat the Grey Wolves 42-21 in 2009 and 14-0 last year at home.

Friday’s game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Pregame starts at 7:05 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone, or online at www.brazosfootball.com.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

Bryan – The Bryan Vikings made the most of five Killeen Ellison turnovers, turning all of them into touchdowns in a 56-7 rout of the Eagles Friday night at Merrill Green Stadium.

After forcing a turnover on downs in Bryan territory, the Vikings (3-1, 1-0) got on the board when quarterback Chris Johnson ran in from 10 yards out to put Bryan up 7-0.

The next 21 points, all of which came in the first quarter, directly resulted from Eagle miscues.

An interception on the next possession set up the Vikings to go up 14-0 when Kevin Jefferson ran in the score from seven yards out.

The next two TDs were scored directly by the defense as Shavon Pennie ripped the ball away from Ellison receiver Felix Marbury and ran 54 yards for the touchdown. Joe Clay
added some spark of his own with a pick-6 from 33 yards out.

The scoring off turnovers continued in the second quarter as Johnson ran in a one-yard score for his second touchdown of the night.

The Viking defense switched from turnovers to forcing punts midway through the second quarter. But the offense produced the same results.

Kevin Jefferson took a handoff on the left side and outran everyone in an 82-yard touchdown run.

Bryan added one more just before halftime as Johnson hit Bobby Johnson for a 37-yard touchdown pass. It was Chris Johnson’s only pass of the night, and one of only three the Vikings threw in the game.

The Vikings slowly added second-string players in the second half, still managing to pitch a shutout until 4:39 left in the game.

Bryan entertained the homecoming crowd with 400 yards of total offense, while holding the Eagles (0-4, 0-1) to 238 yards.

Jefferson was the offensive leader with 149 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. Bobby Johnson had his best offensive performance of the year, finishing with 95 yards on 12 carries and 132 all-purpose yards.

Next up for the Vikings is a trip to Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen next Friday where
they will face the Shoemaker Grey Wolves.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final

Ellison 0 0 0 7 7

    Bryan 28 21 0 7 56

1^st Quarter

Bryan, 7:43 Chris Johnson 10 yd TD run (Chris N. Johnson kick), 7-0

Bryan, 6:15 Kevin Jefferson 7 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 14-0

Bryan, 4:35 Shavon Pennie 54 yd fumble return for TD (Johnson kick), 21-0

Bryan, 1:16 Joe Clay 33 yd INT return for TD (Johnson kick), 28-0

2^ndQuarter

Bryan, 9:52 Johnson 1 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 35-0

Bryan, 5:00 Jefferson 82 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 42-0

Bryan, 1:13 Bobby Johnson 37 yd TD pass from Chris Johnson (Johnson kick), 49-0

4^thQuarter

Bryan, 6:10 Marvin Dowdy 4 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 56-0

Ellison, 4:39 Darius Devartelick 27 yd TD pass from Greg Bryant (Jacob Campbell kick), 56-7

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

     In the world of gaming, you can pause and restart when things get out of hand. If your computer isn’t cooperating, try Control-Alt-Delete for a magic fix.

Real life, however, does not offer such quick remedies. Just ask the Bryan Vikings.

The Vikes took their undefeated record into The Woodlands last week, only to suffer one of their worst regular season defeats to College Park.

After the game, head coach Bob Bellard would say the Vikings’ 50-21 loss was a letdown on multiple fronts, among players and coaches.

Bellard is also the first one to remind you that coaches remember every loss while players bounce back.

“Our kids are going to be fine,” Bellard said. “They’re going to line up and be ready to go play.”

Here’s hoping that ability translates Friday night when Bryan (2-1) hosts Killeen Ellison at Merrill Green Stadium.

The Eagles (0-3) come into Bryan searching for their first win, and having only scored 24 points in three games.

It would seem the time is right for Bryan to bounce back, but Bellard has his concerns.

The Vikings will likely do without LB Curtis Orozco, who is still hurting from a deep thigh bruise. Bellard estimates Orozco was only at about 50 percent against College Park.

The injury Orozco stretches thinner a unit that already lost Senior Hunter Maphet to a season-ending knee injury.

That leaves Tyler Allen, Alex Pappas, and others to pick up the slack. Bellard also says the linebacker instincts are not easily taught.

“Linebacker is such an instinctual thing,” Bellard said. “You’ve got to wade through all the bodies that are trying to block you, and, at the same time, find the football, get your hat on it, and make tackles.”

Friday’s game is homecoming for the Vikings and features a band booster club spaghetti fundraiser before the game. You can dine for $6 from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Silver Campus Café.

Pregame for the Vikings and Ellison starts at 7:05 p.m. on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone, and www.brazosfootball.com. Kickoff is at 7:30.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

SHENANDOAH – College Park capitalized on Bryan miscues and used a ball-hogging ground attack to defeat the Bryan Vikings on Thursday night.

Bryan’s first mistake came when quarterback Chris Johnson was tackled in the end zone on a punt return to put the Cavaliers up 2-0.

College Park took the free kick and scored their first touchdown in only four plays as running back Connor McPherson scored from 15 yards out. The extra point was no good and the Cavs led 8-0.

Bryan looked like they would cut into the lead early, but a Johnson fumble inside the Cavalier 20 was returned by defensive lineman Jesse Jahn. College Park finished off the drive with a 22-yard touchdown run from Alex Young, extending their lead to 15-0.

The ensuing kickoff began a back and forth that continued into the second quarter.

Bobby Johnson, making it three games in a row with big plays, took the kickoff 76 yards for Bryan’s first score. Chris N. Johnson added the extra point to make it 15-7 with 1:17 in the first quarter.

College Park added a 54-yard touchdown run from Austin Boudreaux on the next possession. Bryan answered with a 50-yard touchdown run from Kevin Jefferson. And Zach Wright ran in another Cavalier score from 37 yards out.

By the time the dust settled with 10:11 left in the first half, College Park led 29-14. McPherson added his second touchdown with 17 seconds left in the second quarter, and the Cavaliers led 36-14 at halftime.

College Park picked up in the third quarter where they left off in the first half, forcing a Viking punt on Bryan’s opening possession. Wright capped off a long drive with a one-yard touchdown to make it 43-14.

Bryan’s Thursday nightmare continued when Alvin Adams muffed the ensuing kick, setting up College Park at Bryan 31. McPherson added his third touchdown of the night with 45 seconds left in the third, extending College Park’s lead to 50-14.

The lone second half bright spot for Bryan came as the Vikings converted a fourth down against the Cavaliers’ second-team defense. Chris Johnson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, making it 50-21.

Bryan begins play in District 12-AAAAA next Friday when they host Killeen Ellison at Merrill Green Stadium.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

For the second week in a row, the Bryan Vikings face a team that shares a nickname with a NBA franchise.

After last week’s 35-28 win over the Round Rock McNeil Mavericks (please refer to the reigning NBA champs), the Vikings (2-0) hit the road for a Thursday tilt with the College Park Cavaliers (think: Cleveland). One thing The Woodlands-based high school team has in common with their pro basketball counterparts is that neither has LeBron James, but I digress.

Bryan dodged a serious bullet in their last game as McNeil scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to close a 35-7 third quarter deficit. Vikings head coach Bob Bellard opted to put in second-string players in the third, but he says defensive play overall took a step backward in the second half.

“We put a number of kids in the ballgame,” Bellard said. “In the second half, I didn’t think we executed ones or twos, defensively, very well.”

The Vikings hope to shore up their play on both sides of the ball against the Cavaliers (2-1).

College Park’s two wins are over 4A programs: Lamar Consolidated and Huntsville. They lost their first 5A game of the year last week to Spring DeKaney, 41-14.

Ball control will likely play a large part in the game. The Cavaliers run-based I-formation offense likes to keep opposing defenses on the field, something Bellard saw firsthand in last year’s 10-3 Viking win.

“I think we had three possessions in the first half,” Bellard said.

Thursday’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Woodforest National Bank Stadium in Shenandoah. The pregame starts at 6:30 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

BRYAN – What looked like a trip to the woodshed turned into a nail biter for the Bryan Vikings Friday night at Merrill Green Stadium.

The Vikings withstood a strong comeback from Round Rock McNeil, hanging on to beat the Mavericks 35-28.

Bryan (2-0) took the opening kick, and almost half the first quarter, before QB Chris Johnson ran nine yards for their first score. Johnson added a nine-yard touchdown pass to TE Mike Miner at the close of the period, putting the Vikings up 14-0.

Bryan added a seven-yard touchdown run from Kevin Jefferson with 8:19 left in the first half. Jefferson converted on a fourth-down play, tip-toeing down the sidelines to put the Vikings up 21-0 at halftime.

McNeil (1-2) responded in the third quarter, getting an eight-yard touchdown run from QB Zach Kuhn. The drive was interrupted by an interception from Viking DB V.J. Banks, who then promptly fumbled the ball back to the Mavericks near midfield.

McNeil’s celebration was short-lived, however, as sophomore Bobby Johnson took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, putting the Vikings up 28-7.

A McNeil fumble on the next possession put the Vikings in good field position. Jefferson capped off the drive with a 26-yard touchdown run, and Bryan led 35-7.

Following Jefferson’s second touchdown run, Bryan head coach Bob Bellard began substituting his offensive starters. The result was a stagnant offensive effort that gave the Mavericks new life.

McNeil responded with a one-yard touchdown run from Jalen Harrell to cut the Vikings lead to 35-14.

Bryan’s second-string offense reached midfield before QB Zach Alvarado overthrew WR Tim Willett, but found McNeal DB Peyton Garrett.

Garrett’s return put McNeil in good field position. Backup QB Jordan Robinson ran in from 22 yards out to make it 35-21 with 8:21 left in the game.

The Vikings were forced to punt on their next possession, and McNeil closed the gap even further. Kuhn hit WR Nick Varinella for a four-yard TD pass to make it 35-28.

Another Bryan punt put the ball in the Mavericks’ hands late in the 4^th quarter, but a Tyler Allen sack of Kuhn caused a fumble. Zac Slaydon’s recovery sealed the win for the Vikings.

Johnson was again the Vikings’ offensive leader, rushing for 127 yards and passing for 74. Jefferson added 61 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

Kuhn came into the game with 170 yards rushing on the season. He nearly doubled that total, finishing with 164. Kuhn added 47 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception.

Mavericks RB Harrell finished with 109 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown.

The Vikings have a short week to prepare for The Woodlands College Park. Bryan heads to The Woodlands on Thursday to take on the Cavaliers.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and can be heard live on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone. The pregame show starts at 6:30.

Score by Quarters                1                2                3                4                Final
RR McNeil                              0                0                7               21                 28
Bryan                                    14                7              14                0                  35

1st Quarter
Bryan, 6:53    Chris Johnson 9 yd TD run (Chris Johnson kick), 7-0
Bryan, 0:06    Chris Johnson 9 yd TD pass to Mike Miner (Johnson kick), 14-0

2nd Quarter
Bryan, 8:19    Kevin Jefferson 7 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 21-0

3rd Quarter
McNeil, 7:22   Zach Kuhn 8 yd TD run (Will Janosek kick), 21-7
Bryan, 7:09    Bobby Johnson 95 yd kickoff returned for TD (Johnson kick), 28-7
Bryan, 6:24    Jefferson 26 yd TD run (Johnson kick), 35-7

4th Quarter
McNeil, 10:24 Jalen Harrell 1 yd TD run (Janosek kick), 35-14
McNeil, 8:21   Jordan Robinson 22 yd TD run (Janosek kick), 35-21
McNeil, 5:41   Zach Kuhn 4 yd TD pass to Nick Varinella (Janosek kick), 35-28

STORY BY CHACE MURPHY

Saying your next opponent scares you to death is not necessarily something you expect to hear from a coach coming off a season-opening win.

Bryan Viking head coach Bob Bellard, ever the realist, uses just that characterization to describe the Round Rock McNeil Mavericks.

“They run midline and veer options and kind of get it up in there,” Bellard said. “About three plays don’t look very good, and then all the sudden he goes about 60.”

‘He’ is Mavericks QB Zach Kuhn.

Kuhn is the undisputed offensive leader for McNeil, leading in both passing and rushing. Of the Mavericks 667 yards in total offense in two games, Kuhn has accounted for 358.

McNeil (1-1) comes in after beating 4A Bastrop, 26-21, to begin the season. They fell, 51-27, to top 10-ranked 4A Waco Midway last week.

Defensively, Bellard expects the Mavericks to keep with their past combination of speed and hard hitting, despite their youth.

“They’re very young this year on the defensive side of the football,” he said. “But they still hold the same traits they’ve had in the past as they’re usually very physical.”

Bryan (1-0) kicked off the 2011 season last weekend with a 27-17 win over the Clear Springs Chargers. The Vikings got solid offensive output from QB Chris Johnson and a stellar team effort from the defensive line and secondary.

It’s the third matchup between Bryan and McNeil, with the Vikings picking up wins in 2009 (41-34) and 2010 (28-20). A scheduled 2008 matchup in Bryan was canceled because of Hurricane Ike.

Friday’s game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Green Stadium. The pregame show begins at 7:05 with Chace Murphy and David Campbell on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

The Bryan High School cheerleaders are hosting their annual hamburger dinner fundraiser before the game. The fundraiser is in the Silver Campus Café from 4:30 until 7 p.m. Dine-in and drive-thru are available.

STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY

LEAGUE CITY – One thing is for sure: games are rarely boring when Bob Bellard’s Bryan Vikings are involved.

For Saturday’s season opener against the Clear Springs Chargers, it was the remnant of Tropical Storm Lee that made for an interesting twist to the game.

Light showers fell for most of the game, but it was gusting winds that made it increasingly difficult on both teams as the Vikings withstood a Charger comeback in a 27-17 win.

The Vikings (1-0) got a stellar effort from QB Chris Johnson, who led the way with a combined 189 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson, who saw limited action at quarterback in 2010, split time with Zach Alvarado.

Alvarado, a senior, finished the game with 21 yards passing and an interception. But it was Johnson who paced the Viking offense, scoring two rushing touchdowns and a 77 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Defensively, the Viking intercepted Clear Springs QB Zach Cripps three times and kept the Chargers passing attack in check with only 91 yards.

Clear Springs RB Rian Thompson finished the game with 115 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns.

Bryan led 20-7 at halftime, paced by Johnson’s three touchdowns.

Clear Springs scored 10 unanswered points in the second half, including a five yard touchdown run from Thompson with 10:43 left in the game.

Bryan answered with a five-play drive highlighted by Johnson’s 49 yard run on the first play. Kevin Jefferson capped off on 87 yard rushing performance with a 15-yard touchdown run with 9:14 left in the fourth to put the game away.

Bryan hosts Round Rock McNeil for its home opener on Friday, September 9, at Merrill Green Stadium. The pregame show starts at 7:05; kickoff is at 7:30 live on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150, The Zone.

Vikings Ready to Start 2011 Season

by Chace Murphy

By the time the Bryan Vikings kick off the 2011 varsity football season, they will be two games behind most of their peers.

Head coach Bob Bellard, however, is quick to point out they will make up the difference quickly, playing three games in 12 days.

The Vikings (6-5 in 2010) begin the 2011 campaign Saturday night in League City, taking on the Clear Springs (0-1).

The Chargers lost their season opener to Pearland Dawson, 34-14. Dawson is no slouch, though, ranking in the top 10 in most polls.

Saturday’s matchup is the second meeting between the two schools, with Bryan losing 44-37 in 2010 at Merrill Green Stadium.

Like most coaches, Bellard would like to get a win. But he says putting new players on the field will mean valuable experience.

“It would be great to go get a victory,” Bellard said. “But right now, I think our progress is going to be huge between the first ball game and the second.”

Bryan returns a solid group on defense, including linebackers Hunter Maphet and Curtis Orozco, who missed most of 2010 with injuries. The secondary also looks solid with the return of CB Johnny Childs.

Offensively, the Vikings return several familiar faces including T Tim Hines and WR Tim Willett. Willett, however, will likely miss Saturday’s game with an ankle injury.

The offensive backfield could have a heavy rotation of potential stars. Kevin Jefferson moves from wide receiver to start at the halfback position. Bobby Johnson and Marvin Dowdy will split time at fullback.

Senior Zach Alvarado and Chris Johnson, a junior, will likely split time at quarterback for the first three games. Bellard, as of Thursday, had not named a starter.

The Vikings and Chargers kick off at 7 p.m. from Veterans Memorial Stadium in League City. Pregame begins at 6:30 on KZNE, Sports Radio 1150 “The Zone.” You can also get scoring updates on Twitter at twitter.com/brazosfootball.

12-AAAAA Scores, August 25-27

San Angelo Central 21, Killeen Shoemaker 7 (Thurs)

Klein Oak 19, A&M Consolidated 7

Southlake Carroll 38, Killeen Ellison 31

Georgetown 33, Harker Heights 28

Pflugerville Connally 52, Temple 33

Belton 24, Richmond Foster 20 (Sat)